Haqqani network not on Pakistan soil: Rehman Malik

September 22, 2011 11:26 IST

Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik has ruled out the possibility of Haqqani network's presence in Pakistan. Malik, who held a meeting with Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Robert S Muller in Islamabad, however, said that if Pakistan receives credible information about the group's presence, the government would launch military action.

"I assured FBI Director Robert Mueller that the Haqqanis are not on the Pakistani side, but if there was any intelligence, which was provided by the US, we would definitely take suitable action," the Daily Times quoted Malik, as saying.

Meanwhile, Muller said

that, during the meeting, Malik highlighted the need to enhance more cooperation for the exchange of information between the intelligence agencies of the two nations. He also assured increased collaboration against the war on terrorism.

"The

United States will enable and train Pakistani institutions to take action against terrorists as they are threat to peace of Pakistan, US and the entire world," he said.

Earlier,

it was reported that the US had sharply warned Pakistan that it must cut ties with the Haqqani network based in its tribal region along the Afghan border and help eliminate the militant group's leaders.